Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Albums In Stores Tomorrow

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Here are some albums in stores tomorrow.

Saosin – Saosin
mewithoutYou – Brother, Sister
Mute Math – Mute Math
The Dear Hunter – Act I. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
Westbound Train – Transitions
Escape The Fate – Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
Hometown Anthem – If We Could Dream EP
Fall of Transition – Distractions

Reel Big Fish To Launch The Fall of Ska Tour

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Reel Big Fish are set to launch a fall tour with support from Streetlight Manifesto, Suburban Legends, and Westbound Train. Reel Big Fish’s new 3-disc live CD/DVD set is in stores now.

Tour Dates:

Fri 10/06/06 Chico, CA BMU Auditorium
Tue 10/24/06 Aspen, CO Belly Up
Wed 10/25/06 Grand Junction, CO Mesa Theatre & Club
Fri 10/27/06 Hollywood, CA Avalon
Sat 10/28/06 Atlanta, GA Emory University (RBF Only
Mon 10/30/06 Sparks, NV New Oasis
Tue 10/31/06 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
Wed 11/1/06 Santa Cruz, CA- The Catalyst
Thu 11/02/06 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Fri 11/03/06 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
Sat 11/04/06 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Sun 11/05/06 Seattle, WA El Corazon (Formerly Graceland)
Thu 11/9/06 Calgary, AB- MacEwan Hall Ballroom
Sat 11/11/06 Saskatoon, SA- Louis Pub
Mon 11/12/06 Winnipeg, MB- Ramada Theatre
Tue 11/14/06 Fargo, ND Playmaker’s
Wed 11/15/06 Madison, WI- Barrymore Theatre
Fri 11/17/06 Urbana, IL- The Canopy Club
Sat 11/18/06 Struthers, OH- The Cellar
Sun 11/19/06 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place
Mon 11/20/06 Northampton, MA Pearl Street
Tue 11/21/06 Farmingdale, NY Crazy Donkey
Wed 11/22/06 Boston, MA Avalon
Fri 11/24/06 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls Fun House/Theatre
Sat 11/25/06 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock Cafe
Sun 11/26/06 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Wed 11/29/06 Atlanta, GA Coca Cola Roxy Theatre
Thu 11/30/06 North Myrtle, SC House of Blues
Sun 12/03/06 Jacksonville, FL Plush

Straylight Run Fall Tour, New Album

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Straylight Run has just completed work on their second full-length album, set for release in the spring of 2007. Guitarist and vocalist John Nolan, drummer Will Noon, bassist Shaun Cooper and keyboard/vocalist Michelle Nolan produced the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut entirely on their own, creating a collection of songs that showcase the bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s diversity and creativity. The band, who are currently unsigned and looking for a label to partner with on their new release, has also announced a nationwide tour to preview their new material. The dates, which kick off November 1 in New Haven, CT, will also feature Kevin Devine, Matt Pond Pa and Street to Nowhere.

Say John Nolan â┚¬Ã…”After two months in the studio we’re very excited to have finished our second record and to be going out on the road to perform songs from it for the first time. It’s been awhile since our last headlining tour and we can’t wait to get back out again.â┚¬? He continues â┚¬Ã…”We’ll be playing a lot of songs from our first record and EP in the set but we will also be rotating six or seven of the songs we recently recorded. It’ll be great for us to refine the live versions of our new songs and see what kind of
response our new material gets.â┚¬?

Nov 1 – New Haven, CT – Toadâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Place
Nov 2 – Providence, RI – The Living Room
Nov 4 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ New York, NY â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Knitting Factory
Nov 5 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Ithaca, NY â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Ithaca College
Nov 7 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Detroit, MI â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ The Magic Stick
Nov 8 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Cincinnati, OH â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 20th Century Theatre
Nov 9 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Cleveland, OH â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Grog Shop
Nov 10 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ East Lansing, MI â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Michigan State U
Nov 11 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Chicago, IL â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Beat Kitchen
Nov 14 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Colorado Springs, CO â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Black Sheep
Nov 15 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Salt Lake City, UT â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Club Sound
Nov 17 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Los Angeles, CA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ The Roxy
Nov 18 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Anaheim, CA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Chain Reaction
Nov 19 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ San Francisco, CA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Bottom of the Hill
Nov 21 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ San Diego, CA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Soma Sidestage
Nov 22 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Tempe, AZ â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Clubhouse
Nov 26 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Houston, TX â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Walterâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s on Washington
Nov 28 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Nashville, TN â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Exit/In
Nov 29 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Atlanta, CA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Masquerade
Nov 30 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Carrboro, NC â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Cats Cradle
Dec 1 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Baltimore, MD â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Ottobar
Dec 2 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Boston, MA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Axis
Dec 3 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ New York, NY â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Bowery Ballroom
Dec 5 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Philadelphia, PA â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ TLA

Equal Vision To Release Coheed and Cambria Side Project

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Claudio Sanchez, front man and visionary of prog rockers Coheed and Cambria, has completed his first solo album under the name The Prize Fighter Inferno.

The 12-song album, entitled My Brother’s Blood Machine, will be released this Halloween (Tuesday, October 31st) on upstate New York indie label Equal Vision Records. Original home to Coheed and Cambria albums “The Second Stage Turbine Blade” (2002), and “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3” (2003), Equal Vision entered into a partnership with major label Columbia Records to release Coheed and Cambria’s epic third full-length album, “Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: Volume I: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness” in the fall of 2005. In total, Coheed and Cambria have sold well over 1 million albums in their five year career.

My Brother’s Blood Machine further develops and expands the concepts established in the Coheed and Cambria albums with such recurring themes as the McCloud Family and references to its missing children.Ԛ  The primary difference is that this album is being told from the point of view of a character known as “The Prize Fighter Inferno” a.k.a. Jesse from the story of Coheed and Cambria.

The Prize Fighter Inferno – “My Brother’s Blood Machine” Track List:

1 – The Going Price for Home
2 – The Fight of Moses Early & Sir Arthur McCloud
3 – Our Darling Daughter You Are, Little Cecilia Marie
4 – A Death in the Family
5 – The Margretville Dance
6 – Accidents
7 – Run, Gunner Recall, Run! The Town Wants You Dead!
8 – Who Watches The Watchmen?
9 – Wayne Andrews, The Old Bee Keeper
10 – The Missing McCloud Boys
11 – Easter
78 – 78

Staff Recommendations September 24th 2006

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Julie Watanabe

Adie Camp – As the former frontwoman of rock ensemble The Benjamin Gate and songwriter Jeremy Camp’s wife, Adie has, for better or worse, no lack of ties to the music industry. This Tuesday, her first ever solo album Don’t Wait debuts through BEC Records. Her music is undeniably pop laced with acoustic rock, and despite being lumped into a competitive genre that’s already overpopulated, Adie manages to beat out much of her stake. For an idea of her style think catchy choruses like early Michelle Branch mixed with soft spoken vocal insight reminiscent of Anna Nalick. Check out “Your Way” on her myspace.
Myspace

Saosin – It’s been 3 years and waiting for early Saosin fans. 3 years since Translating The Name went public and the revolution was set in motion. The justifications are endless, but Saosin in your stereo is more important than money in your pocket. DON’T pirate this album! Saosin are the pioneers of this scene (no matter what you’d like to believe) and not buying this album would be of the highest disrespect. Look for the review soon.
Myspace

Michael Schneider

Matt Wertz – Matt has consistently been a favorite of mine since I was introduced to him. His infectious melodies and lyrics that connect with all listeners drive his entire catalogue and especially his new release “Everything In Between”

Cassidy Myers

mewithoutYou – Their new release “Brother, Sister” is absolutely amazing and will be one of the best releases to come out this year.

Rocky Votolato – Put out his amazing new album “Makers” this January. Rocky Votolato is the best solo artist to come out of Seattle.

Valida Prentice

I’m living in Barcelona right now and this past weekend was the big city festival, in honor of Barcelona’s patron Saint Mercedes. As part of the festivities, there was TONS of music, both traditional and contemporary. I think I’ll be drawing on the bands I first listened to at the free shows this weekend for the next few weeks’ recommendations. This week, I’ll recommend to you Canadians The Hidden Cameras who blend an array of string instruments with indie-pop keys & guitars and a poppin’ Spanish electronica quartet called Mendetz.

Reema Desai

The Format – Dog Problems was released in this year in the middle of the summer and I haven’t really stopped listening to it since. The lyrics and subject matter are as personal as songs can possibly be and the variety of instruments and techniques used on this album make it stick out from the crowd as well as add a certain flavor to the album. One can not listen to this album and not respect the evident hard work and sincerity that went into making it. The leap the band took from their previous record, Interventions and Lullabies to Dog Problems is truely phenomenal. This is easily one of if not the most witty and catchy pop albums of the year.

(On a side note, they also have the coolest website ever.)

This Providence – This Providence

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This Providence

Artist: This Providence
Album: This Providence
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Purchase: SmartPunk
Release Date: September 12, 2006

Overall: 7.1
Music: 7.0
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 6.5

I wish I could judge a record based on its message because if I could, the second release by Seattle-natives ‘This Providence’ would be a perfect ten. In a music scene where negativity breeds popularity, This Providence has continually held strong to their faith-based lyrics and outstanding character even now being a part of a record company laden with immorality. Their first record ‘Our World’s Divorce’ was a perfect blend of pop-rock and off tempo indie-emo and held a flavor original to This Providence. While there signature sound is sometimes present, their Fueled By Ramen debut seems apt to follow the trends of popular music.

‘A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing’ is the strongest song on this album not only musically but lyrically as well. A conversation with the devil, the lyrics command that God will prevail over the sin of the earth. ‘Card House Dreamer’ and ‘Secret Love and the Fastest Way to Loneliness’ are solid, but would’ve been filler tracks on their first album. ‘My Beautiful Rescue’ again defines why This Providence is in my opinion one of the best bands in music lyrically. Directly admitting sinful nature, they plead “I’m crying out, wash my hands, these bloody hands, Lord.” It could be the simple personal connection, but it isn’t often you find such honesty in music. While I had hoped this was just a taste of the greatness present already on this album, unfortunately this track is the peak of the record.

After the first four songs, it feels like the band wrote to please someone. The songs vary in production style and lack in heart. ‘The Pursuit of Happiness: 1st Movement’ and ‘Anything is Possible’ would have rounded out a very impressive EP, but the stretch for a full-length record involved songs that just don’t cut the standard This Providence has made for themselves. The potential for greatness is definitely there and I’m anxious to see what comes next for these young and talented guys. If any other band had released this record, I might have given a higher rating, however with a bigger budget and wider audience than ever before, I had very high hopes.

Track Listing
1. A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
2. Card House Dreamer
3. Secret Love And The Fastest Way To Loneliness
4. My Beautiful Rescue
5. Losing Control
6. ..But What Will They Say
7. Anything Is Possible
8. The Road To Jericho Is Lined With Starving People
9. Walking On Water
10. An Ocean Between
11. The Pursuit Of Happiness: 1st Movement
12. The Pursuit Of Happiness: 2nd Movement